Earlier this month, a Nagasaki, Japan IR bidder announced it would withdraw due to concerns about the RFP process. Oshidori Development claims the prefectural government played favorites to eliminate its Sails on Omura Bay project (l.), conceived with Mohegan Gaming.

A coalition of non-Strip operators, small casinos and bars and restaurants have sent a letter to the Nevada Gaming Control Board urging it to reject the legalization of online gaming in the state. Red Rock Resorts principals Frank & Lorenzo Fertitta (l.) were two of 28 executives who signed the letter

A committee of the Macau Legislative Assembly says the government should get underway with a public consultation on amendments to local gaming laws, which would include details on the concession renewals. The process was expected to begin in the second half of 2021.

Sightline Payments completed a $244 million funding round via a company controlled by billionaire Bill Foley (l.) that raises the company’s value to more than $1 billion, making it the first Nevada-based fintech unicorn.

A bill is making its way through Brazil’s National Congress that would allow integrated resorts, including casinos. According to a report submitted to the Economy Minister, IRs could attract $8.11 billion annually.

In a change of policy, MGM Resorts now requires Covid-19 vaccinations “as a condition of employment for all salaried employees and new hires throughout the United States.”

Arizona has more sports betting license applications than it has licenses. Now that the August 9 deadline is past, the Arizona Department of Gaming must decide which of 15 gaming tribes will get the 10 licenses.

Research firms Toluna and Harris Interactive have released a report on gambling attitudes in both the U.K. and U.S. The firm interviewed more than 4,000 people about sports betting, casinos, problem gambling, etc.

The Bull and the Bear rarely see eye-to-eye. But investors need both viewpoints to make informed decisions. Let’s get their takes on the current economy, future prospects and the impact of politics.

In a special edition of the GGB Podcast, we bring together Scott Sibella, President, Resorts World Las Vegas, Rick Hutchins, , SVP Casino Operations, Resorts World Las Vegas and Tom Jingoli, EVP & COO, Konami Gaming to talk about how the new technology offered at Resorts World Las Vegas is breaking new barriers for customers and employees alike.

Junket operator Suncity Group has promised to return advance deposits from high-roller players in the Philippines. A local newspaper reported the firm was struggling to make the payments.

Bobby Soper (l.), international president of U.S.-based tribal gaming operator Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment, says MGE’s $1.6 billion Inspire Korea integrated resort should open by the second quarter of 2023.

The opening of Galaxy Macau’s Phase 3 has been pushed back to 2022 due to labor restrictions caused by Covid-19, says Galaxy Entertainment Vice Chairman Francis Lui (l.).

Maybank Investment says Resorts World Genting (l.) won’t reopen this month as expected. Due to a surge in Covid-19 cases, the firm says the resort in Genting Highlands likely will not resume operations until November.

International Entertainment, which operates Manila’s New Coast Hotel (l.). has announced it will push back a plan to develop an integrated resort in Manila, a plan previously approved by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

U.K. problem gambling organization GambleAware has provided funds to help create Great Britain’s first academic center for gambling harm research. The center goal is to guide the elimination of gambling harm.

Australia’s Star Entertainment Group will begin formal negotiations with the government of New South Wales over its plan to add 1,000 new gaming machines at the Star Sydney.

Casinos in New Zealand were ordered to close August 16 after one new Covid-19 case was identified in the country, possibly the highly contagious Delta variant. SkyCity hotels (l.) remained open.

As a way to prevent gambling harms, especially with children, Twitch, a live streaming platform, has banned links and referral codes to sites that offer gambling. The decision came after a critical article in Wired.

Rush Street Interactive has invested in content supplier Boom Entertainment, and will offer online casino and sports betting content, including exclusive games, from Boom. In addition, RSI has partnered with online table-game provider Evolution Gaming in Michigan.

Philippines sports betting operator MegaSportsWorld will launch a remote gaming platform following approval from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

Responsible Wagering Australia has come out in support of a ban on credit cards to fund online gambling. RWA CEO Brent Jackson (l.) made the announcement at an inquiry by the country’s lawmakers.

BetMGM partnered with the Washington Nationals in June, and by July, was siphoning market share from rivals GambetDC and William Hill. While BetMGM finished third of three, it was a good start.

The NFL has added a second tier of sportsbook partners including BetMGM, PointsBet and WynnBET. Meanwhile, Caesars Entertainment has become the official sports betting partner of the Houston Texans.

The Washington Football Team has joined the American Gaming Association’s “Have A Plan. Bet Responsibly” public service campaign to promote responsible gaming.

Genius Sports has acquired Spirable, a leading creative performance platform, to provide personalized cross-channel technology for data-driven creative content.

Canada has finally approved single-event bets, an advance that eluded lawmakers in the past. Now it’s up to each province to decide whether to legalize these wagers, and how. Some may go live by the end of August.

Australian betting giant Tabcorp will invest in artificial intelligence to help it compete with online sports betting rivals such as Sportsbet and Ladbrokes.

Esports Technologies, Inc. has joined the Esports Integrity Commission in its mission to end match-fixing and corrupt betting activity in esports. The ESIC was founded in 2016 to combat betting-related violations in esports.

Swedish-based Kambi Group is partnering with casino operator Island Luck in the Bahamas. Kambi will be the official online sportsbook for the gaming company.

Trey Wingo, a former ESPN personality, has been hired by Caesars Entertainment as brand manager for sports betting content. He was on ESPN for 23 years as host of NFL Live and NFL Draft coverage.

The Ukrainian Ice Hockey Federation has partnered with sportsbook VBET in a campaign to restore hockey’s dominance and rebrand the national organization.

Mini casinos in former department stores could revitalize struggling shopping centers in the state, says West Virginia state Senator Eric Nelson (l.) who wants to bring satellite casinos to existing casinos’ host counties.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board held a public hearing on the plan of SG Gaming, LLC to place a Category 4 mini-casino at the Nittany Mall (l.) in Centre County.

Allied Esports Entertainment may call it quits in the esports business. The company is mulling the sale of the HyperX Esports Arena at the Luxor in Las Vegas and may shift gears in the entertainment business.

The Bay State’s casinos hit the heights in July reaching record revenues. The Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park slots parlor’s revenues showed that all three have recovered from the pandemic.

Casino Vicksburg in Mississippi is now Bally’s Vicksburg Casino with new exterior signage and a new players club program, Bally Rewards. Branded dice, cards, gaming chips and table game layouts will arrive soon.

Hard Rock International will assume 85 percent ownership of the $300 million Hard Rock casino in Gary, Indiana from Spectacle Entertainment, whose top executives are accused of crimes including financial fraud.

North Platte, Nebraska Mayor Brand Kelliher cast the deciding vote to approve a conditional use permit for a new horse racetrack and eventual casino. The Racing and Gaming Commission must approve the licenses.

Craig Duchossois, of the family that founded Arlington International Racecourse in Illinois, says state politicians have “killed” the racetrack, owned by Churchill Downs. The venue will close September 25.

Visitors to indoor venues in New Orleans, including Harrah’s New Orleans and the Fairgrounds racino, must show vaccination proof or a negative Covid-19 test under new mandates from Mayor LaToya Cantrell (l.).

Hollywood Casino (l.), a riverboat based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, will take advantage of state legislation allowing riverboats to move to land. A new $60 million facility is expected to open in late 2022.

Binion’s Gambling Hall and Hotel (l.) celebrated its 70th anniversary on August 15. Benny Binion opened the venue as Binion’s Horseshoe, and his family operated it until 2004.

This fall, MGM Resorts will sell 11 Picasso originals in a live auction at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. The collection includes the 1938 painting “Femme au Béret Rouge-Orange” (l.), valued at up to $30 million.

Circa Las Vegas, a Derek Stevens resort that opened last October, has earned a prestigious AAA Four-Diamond award. It’s the first resort in Downtown Vegas to win the distinction.

Construction is nearly complete on the new, relocated Table Mountain Casino near Fresno, California. Leaders of the Table Mountain Rancheria aren’t saying when the casino resort will open.

A report by YouGov of gambling behaviors in 13 countries around the world concludes that there has been a huge shift to online verticals by gaming consumers—especially when it comes to lottery.

Scientific Games has signed a new seven-year contract to provide instant games to the Saarland-Sporttoto GmbH lottery in Germany, creating a full instant-game partnership.

Penn National Gaming has named Allie Evangelista (l.) as general manager of Hollywood Casino Perryville in Maryland, after the operators assumed operations of the property recently.

Kimberly Manna (l.) is the new senior vice president of retail and licensing at Hard Rock International. Previously she was CEO at Panama Jack and also worked at Sony Pictures Entertainment and Warner Brothers.

Dana M. Schlehuber (l.) has been named general manager of the Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. A tribal member, she has worked for Kewadin Casinos for 18 years, including seven on the executive team.

Strive Gaming, an iGaming platform supplier, has named Max Meltzer (l.), the former chief commercial officer of Kambi, as the company’s new chief executive officer.

Michael Lee, the former chief executive officer of Genesis Gaming, has been appointed vice president of gaming for FansUnite Entertainment. He will be in charge of launching the company’s new iGaming line.

Gaming executive Alex Dixon (l.), currently president of PureStar in Las Vegas, will succeed the outgoing Jesus Aviles as president of the Q Casino in Dubuque, Iowa. Aviles will retire before the end of the year.

TCSJOHNHUXLEY was chosen to supply the latest live gaming equipment at Hollywood Casino York, Penn National Gaming’s newest casino, which opened August 12 in Pennsylvania’s York County.

TransAct Technologies Inc. has issued new shares of its common stock in a public offering, with company officials reporting gross proceeds of $10.6 million.

Scientific Games announced a partnership with Marker Trax, producer of a cashless marker system for the slot floor that is rapidly growing its industry footprint.

Jette Nygaard-Andersen (l.), recently appointed CEO of sports betting provider Entain, will deliver the keynote speech at next month’s SBC Summit Barcelona.